Bed bug calls to Murray Pest Control have been increasing steadily across central Oklahoma — Stillwater, Edmond, and the broader metro area. Much of the increase is tied to post-pandemic travel resuming and the growing secondhand furniture market. Here are five things that most Oklahoma residents don’t know about bed bugs — and that change how you should think about prevention and treatment.

1. Cleanliness Has Nothing to Do With Getting Bed Bugs

This is the most persistent bed bug myth. Bed bugs don’t seek out dirty environments — they seek out human hosts. A five-star hotel has had documented bed bug infestations. Bed bugs spread through travel, secondhand furniture, clothing, luggage, and even library books. Anyone who travels or buys used goods can encounter them. Feeling embarrassed about a bed bug problem delays treatment and allows populations to grow.

2. They Can Survive Over 6 Months Without Feeding

Adult bed bugs can survive 6-12 months without a blood meal under optimal conditions. This is why strategies like “leaving the infested room empty for a while” don’t work. It’s also why infestations can persist in storage units, vacation properties, and rental furniture long after the original host is gone. A professional treatment is the only reliable way to eliminate an established population.

3. Bug Bombs Make Infestations Worse

Foggers — sold as “bug bombs” at hardware stores — are actively counterproductive for bed bug treatment. The fog reaches open areas of a room but doesn’t penetrate the cracks, wall voids, and furniture joints where bed bugs live. Worse, the active ingredients act as repellents that scatter bed bugs throughout the home, turning a contained infestation into a whole-house problem. Pest professionals in Oklahoma see this regularly after DIY attempts with foggers.

4. They Don’t Just Live in Beds

“Bed bug” is a misnomer. While they prefer to stay within 8 feet of where you sleep, bed bugs infest sofas, chairs, luggage, behind baseboards, inside electrical outlets, picture frames, electronics, and virtually any crack near where people rest. Thorough professional inspection and treatment addresses the entire room — not just the mattress and box spring.

5. OSU and University Housing Are High-Risk Environments in Stillwater

College dormitories, apartment complexes, and frequently-rented housing are high-transmission environments for bed bugs. Students returning home to Stillwater from campus can unknowingly bring bed bugs in their luggage or clothing. Parents hosting college students and families who purchase furniture from college-area secondhand stores should know that these are above-average risk pathways. Inspect secondhand furniture thoroughly before bringing it inside, and wash and heat-dry all clothing after travel.

What to Do If You Suspect Bed Bugs in Oklahoma

Don’t wait, don’t fog, and don’t throw out furniture immediately (that can spread bugs to other rooms). Call Murray Pest Control at 405-377-7777 for a professional inspection. We can confirm the infestation, assess the extent, and provide a treatment plan. Early treatment is significantly less involved — and less expensive — than treating a whole-home infestation.

Jake Murray is the owner of Murray Pest Control in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and holds a B.S. in Entomology from Oklahoma State University.